Multiple punch



April 18, 1944. W. D, I Ewls 2,346,925

MULTIPLE PUNCH Filed Jan. 2, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fegag.

n. ing plate 20 having Patented Apr. 18, 1944 2,346,925 MULTIPLE PUNCH William D. Lewis, Northridge, Calii'., assignor to Aircraft Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California l Application January 2, 1943, Serial No. 471,209 11 claims. (c1. 164-118) My invention relates to the punch press art, and more particularly to a multiple punch press.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a, punch press in which one or more dies and one or more punches are employed, lthe dies and punches being readily removable without altering the settings of their supporting blocks, so that other dies and punches may be readily substituted therefor, which facilitates rapid changes of set-up essential in production where a variety of dierent operations must be performed with a single punch and die set.

Another object of my invention is to provide a punch and die set which' is economical to build and which is simple and efilcient to use.

Still another object of the invention is to pro- `vide a punch and die set having novel means for adjustably supporting the die blocks and punch blocks and quickly clamping them in anyl desired lateral position relative to each other by means of gauge lblocks `or spacer blocks orl other means.

My invention can also be used advantageously for multiple operations on the same part. For

example, two or more pairs of punches and dies for-successive operations on a single part may be installed, and the respective pairs used pros gressively on the part to provide several punching opeations without additional set-up of the punch and die set as a whole. This is a further object of the invention.

Other advantages of the invention lie in the particular construction disclosed and will be apparent from the following` specication and the drawings, which are for the purpose of illustration only, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the stop element of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, I show a supportspaced vertical guide posts 2| and 22 rigidly secured thereon and extending upwardly therefrom. Journalled for vertical sliding movement on the guide posts 2l and 22 is a top plate 23 having Javertical central post 24 mounted thereon-.andwhich is adapted to be engaged and actuated by a power actuated punch press or other similar mechanism (not shown).

Secured to and supported on the supporting plate 20 is a lower bed member rwhich, as best shown in Fig. 2, is provided with a crosschannel 21 having face 29, the latter being undercut beneath a horizontal lip 30. Adapted to be retained in the cross-channel 21 are a plurality of die blocks 32, 33,A and 34, all of identical construction. The die block 32 is provided with a horizontal groove 35 adapted to ilt over the horizontal lip 30 of the lower bed member 25, and is provided with a central vertical bore 36 intersected by a horizontal-threaded set-screw opening 31 containing a threaded set-screw 38. The vertical bore 36 of the die block 32 registers vertically with a horizontal groove 39 formed longitudinally in the lower bed member 25, for a purpose to be described hereinafter. As will be noted, the die block 32 is provided with a rear bevelled clamping face 46. .i

Formed in the rearward portion of the lower bed member 25 is a T-shaped slot 42, as best shown in Fig. 2, adapted to receive a square nut 43 threaded on a clamping screw 44, the up'per end of which is provided with a socket head 45. The clamping screw 44 extends through an L- shaped clamp member 46, the socket head 45 engaging the upper surface of the clamp member. The clamp member 46 is provided with a forward clamping face 48 adapted to engage the clamping face 40 of the die block 32 in clamping relationship. By rotating the socket head 45 of the clamping screw 44, the clamp member 46 is drawn downwardly to clamp the clamping face 48 thereof against the clamping face 40 of the die-block 32 to hold the die block rigidly in a desired lateral position relative to the lower bed member 25. The T-shaped slot 42 prevents the square nut 43 from turning when the socket head 45 is rotated. Secured to the clamp member 46, as by a socket headed screw 49, is a stop member 50, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, which is provided with an elongated opening 5l through which the socket headed screw 49 extends and which is used to permit forward or rearward adjustment of the `position of thestop member relative to the die block 32. As will be understood, additional clamp members similar to the clamp member 46 are provided to similarly engage the die blocks 33 and 34, the clamp member engaging the die block 34 being provided with a. socket headed screw similar to the screw 49 and which extends through an elongated opening 53 in the stop member 50 to hold the same rigidly relative to the die block.

Secured to and depending from kthe top plate 23 is an upper bed member 54 of a general congurationsimilar to that of the lower bed mema rear face 26 and a front Il ber 25 but somewhat Smaller in size. 'Ihe upper a socket head 63 formed on the lower end thereof for rotation of the screw.

Adapted to be received and secured in the cross-channel 55 is a punch block 64 provided with a front transverse slot 65 into which the horizontal lip 58 of the upper bed member 54 projects. The punch block 64 is retained in a desired transverse position in the cross channel 55 by means of a clamp member 61 provided with \a forward clamping face 68 adapted to engage a bevelled clamping face 69 formed on the rearward portion of the punch block 64. As will be understood, by tightening the screw 62 by rotating the socket head 63 thereof, the clamp mem-A ber 61 is drawn upwardly into rigid engagement with the punch block s4, thus damping the punch block in a desired position in the crosshannel 55; The punch block 64 is also provided with a vertical central opening intersected by a screw-threaded opening 1| adapted to receive a set-screw 12. As will also ,be understood, additional punch blocks 13 and 14 are provided and are identical in construction with the punch block 64, being similarly clamped in their desired respective transverse positions on the upper bed member 54 by suitable clamp members similar to the clamp member 61, but not shown in detail herein.

Received in the vertical bore 36 of the die block 32 is a die button 16 provided with a stem 11 that is retained in the bore 36 of the die block, the stem being flattened at 18 on one side thereof to permit the set-screw 38 to solidly engage the stem 11 and retain the die button rigidly in the die block. The die button 16 is provided with a vertical axial opening 19 therethrough which is adapted to receive in punching relation the.punching stern 88 of a punch 8| having a retaining stem 82 which extends upwardly into the central opening 10 of the punch block 64 and is retained therein by engagement of the set-screw 12 with the retaining stem.

The die block 33 is equipped with a die button 84 similar to the die button 16, adapted to register with a punch 85 similar to the punch 8|, the punch 85 being retained in the punch block 13. Similarly, a similar die button 86 is provided for the die block 34 and registers with a similar punch 81 retained by the punch block 14.

As will be understood from theforegoing de scription, the die blocks 32, 33, and 34 are independently adjustable in the cross-channel 21 to provide any desired spacing therebetween, and are individually clamped in their desired positions. Similarly, the punch blocks 64, 13, and

14 are independently adjustable relative to each other in the cross-channel 58 to provide any desired relationship therebetween. Obviously, the punch button 8| must be vertically axially aligned with the die button 16, and similarly the other pairs thereof 85, 84, and 81, 86 must be vertically aligned. Thus, the spacing between adjacent die punch pairs may be readily changed between operations and without dismantling the press or removing the upper or lower bed members 54 or 25, respectively, for this purpose, as is ordinarily required in such punch presses. This con- 'Il struction feature materially expedites adjustment of the press for different operations and results in a material saving in what is otherwise lost time in converting the press from one operation to another. Also, as will be noted, the stop member 58 may be readily adjusted forwardly or rearwardly by merely loosening the socket headed screw 46 so as to provide ready adjustment of the edge spacing between the edge of the material to be punched and the die buttons 16, 84, and 86. This feature also expedites changes in adjustment of the press without dismantling the same and increases production capable of being obtained therewith.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, when the device is in operation, the top plate 23 is raised by any suitable mechanism attached to the central post 24 thereon so as to provide clearance between the punches 8|, 85, and 81 and their. respective die buttons 16, 84, and 86. vThe work to vbe punched is then lnserted between the punches and the die buttons and is moved rearwardly until it engages the stop member 50, at which time the top plate may be lowered to cause the punches to pass through the material to be punched and into the die buttons, thereby forming the desired punchings. The punchings drop downwardly through the opening 19 to the die button 16 into the horizontal groove 39, and similarly from the other die buttons 84 and 86, from which the punchings may be readily cleaned by pneumatic than simultaneously as described hereinabove.

For example, the set 16, 8| maybe designed to perform a iirst operation on a single part, the set 84, 85 may be designed to perform a second operation thereon, and the set 86, 81 may be designed to perform a third operation thereon. In such case the part to be punched is rst aligned between the die button 16 and the punch 8|, and the first operation is performed; the part is then moved over into proper alignment between the die button 84 and the punch 85, and the second operation is performed: and, finally, the part is aligned between the die button 86 and the punch 81, and the third operation is performed. Thus, a sequence of operations on a single part is readily possible with my punch and die set without changing the setting of the elements thereof, which materially speeds up production and is a valuable feature of the invention.

Although I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that certain parts and elements thereof may be replaced by other parts and elements having equivalent functions without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not intend to be limited to the specific embodiment described, but desire to be afforder' the full scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a punch and die set, the combination of: a lower bed having a lateral face; an upper bed; means for moving said upper bed vertically relative to said lower bed: a die block adapted to be supported on said lower bed with one side thereof in engagement with said lateral face, the other side of said die block being bevelled; a clamp adapted to be releasably secured to said lower bed, said clamp having a bevelled face adapted to engage said bevelled side of said die block and movable vertically relative to said die block so as to hold said die block in a desired position against said lateral face of said lower bed; a punch block releasably secured to said upper bed; a die secured in said die block; vand a punch secured in said punch block.

2. In a punch and die set, the combination of: a lower bed; an upper bed having a lateral face; means for moving said upper bed vertically relative to said lower bed; a die block releasably secured to said lower bed; a punch block adapted to be supported on said upper bed with one side thereof in engagement with said lateral face, the other side thereof being bevelled; a clamp releasably secured to said upper bed, said clamp having a bevelled face adapted to engage said bevelled side of said punch block and movable vertically relative to said punch block so as to hold said punch block in a desired position against said lateral face of said upper bed; a die secured in said die block; and -a punch secured in said punch block.

3. In a punch and die set, the combination of: a lower bed having a lateral rectangular slot in the upper surface thereof, the opposite Walls of said slot being parallel, and having a T-shaped slot therein parallel to said rectangular slot; an upper bed; means for moving said upper bed vertically relative to said lower bed; a die block adapted to be supported on said lower bed and having a portion thereof riding in said rectanguiar slot so as to engage one of said walls; a clamp supported on said lower bed and extending into said rectangular slot in engagement with said die block; a square nut longitudinally movable in said T-shaped slot; a threaded element extending through said clamp and into said nut, rotation of which is adapted to cause said clamp to securely hold said die block against said one wall of said rectangular slot; a punch block releasably secured to said upper bed; a die secured in said die block;` and a punch secured in said punch block.

4. In a punch and die set, the combination of a lower bed; an upper bed having a lateral rectangular slot in the lower surface thereof, the opposite walls of said slot being parallel, and having a T-shaped slot therein parallel to said rectangular slot; means for moving said upper bed vertically relative to said lower bed; a die block releasably secured to said lower bed; a punch block adapted to be supported on said upper bed and having a portion thereof riding in said rectangular slot so as to engage one of said walls; a clamp supported on said upper bed and extending into said rectangular slot in engagement with said punch block; a square nut longitudinally movable in said T-shaped slot; a threaded element extending through said clamp and into said nut, rotation of which is adapted to cause said clamp to securely hold said punch block against said one wall of said rectangular slot; a die secured in said die block; and a punch secured in said punch block.

5. In a punch and die set, the combination of: a lower bed having a lateral rectangular slot in the upper surface thereof, the opposite walls of said slot being parallel, and having a T-shaped slot therein parallel to said rectangular slot, said lower bed also having an open-ended longitudinal groove formed in the upper surface thereof parallel to said rectangular slot; an upper bed; means for moving said upper bed vertically relative to said lower bed; a die block adapted to be supported on said lower bed andl having a portion thereof riding in said rectangular slot so as to engage one of said walls; a clamp supported on said lower bed and extending into said rectangular slot in engagement with said die block;

a square nut longitudinally movable in said T- shaped slot; a threaded element extending through said clamp and into said nut, rotation of which is adapted to cause said clamp to securely hold said die block against said one wall of said rectangular slot; a punch block releasably secured to said upper bed; a die secured in said die block so that said longitudinal groove receives the punchings from said die; and 'a punch secured in said punch block;

6. In a punch and die set, the combination of: a lower bed having a lower lateral rectangular slot in the upper surface thereof, the opposite walls of said slot being parallel, and having a lower T-shaped slot therein parallel to said rectangular slot; an upper bed having an upper lateral rectangular slot in the lower surface thereof and parallel to said lower rectangular slot, the opposite walls of said upper rectangular slot being parallel, said upper bed also having an upper T-shaped slot therein parallel to said lower T- shaped slot; means for moving said upper bed vertically relative to said lower bed; a die block adapted to be supported on said lower bed and having a portion thereof riding in said lower rec`- tangular slot so as to engage one of the walls thereof; a lower clamp supported on said lower bed and extending into said lower rectangular slot in engagement with said die block; a first square nut longitudinally movable in said lower T-shaped slot; a first threaded element extending through said lowervclamp and into said rst nut, rotation of which is adapted to cause said lower clamp to securely hold said die block against said one wall of said lower rectangular slot; a punch block adapted to be supported on said upper bed and having a portion thereof riding in said upper rectangular slot so as to engage one of the walls thereof; an upper clamp supported on said upper bed and extending into said upper rectangular slot in engagement with said punch block; a second sequare nut longitudinally movable in said upper T-shaped slot; a Second threaded element extending through said upper clamp and into said second nut, rotation of which is adapted to cause said upper clamp to securely hold said punch block against said one wall of said upper rectangular slot; a die secured in said die block; and a punch secured in said punch block.

7. In a punch and die set, the combination of a lower bed having a lateral slot in the upper surface thereof, and having a clamping slot therein parallel to said lateral slot; an upper bed; means for moving said upper bed vers tically relative to said lower bed; a die block supported on said lower bed and having a portion thereof extending into said lateral slot so as to engage a, side wall of said lateral slot; a clamp supported on said lower bed' and extending into engagement with said die block; fastening means extending through said clamp and into said clamping slot, said fastening means being operable to move said clamp vertically relative to said lower bed into clamping engagement with said die block to clamp said die block laterally against said side wall; a punch block releasably secured to said upper bed; a die securedin said die block; and a punch secured in said punch block.

8. In a punch and die set, the combination of: a lower bed; an upper bed having a lateral slot in the lower surface thereof, and having a clamping slot therein parallel to said lateral slot; means for moving said upper bed vertically relative to said lower bed; a die block releasably secured to said lower bed; a punch block supported on said upper bed and having a portion thereof extending into said lateral slot so as to engage a side wall of said lateral slot; a clamp extending into engagement with said punch block; fastening means extending through said clamp and into said clamping slot, said fastening means being operable to move said clamp vertically relative to said upper bed into clamping engagement with said punch block to clamp said punch block laterally against said side wall;

a die secured in said die block; and a punchx secured in said punch block.

9. In a punch and die set, the combinatio of a lower bed having a lateral slot in the upper surface thereof, and having a clamping slot therein parallel to said lateral slot; an upper bed; means for moving said upper bed vertically relative to said lower bed; a die block supported on said lower bed and having a portion thereof extending into said lateral slot so as to engage a side wall of said lateral slot; a clamp supported on said lower bed and extending into engagement with said die block; fastening means extending through said clamp and into said clamping slot, said fastening means being operable to move said clamp vertically relative to said lower bed into clamping engagement with said die block to clamp said die block laterally against y a punch secured in said punch block; and adjustable stop means carried by said clamp and adapted to position a piece of work between said die and said punch.

10. In a punch yand die set, the combination of: a lower bed having a lateral slot in the upper surface thereof, said slot having first and second parallel side walls; an upper bed; means for moving said upper bed vertically relative to said lower bed; a die block supported on said lower bed and having a portion thereof extending into said lateral slot so as to engage said rst side wall and so as to leave a space between said portion and said second side wall; a clamp supported on said lower bed and extending into said space between said portion and said second side wall; and fastening means for moving said clamp vertically relative to said die block to wedge between said portion and said second side wall to hold said die block laterally against said first side wall.

l1. In a punch and die set, the combination off aslower bed; anupper bed having a lateral slot in the lower surface thereof, said slot having first and second parallel side walls; means for moving said upper bed vertically relative to said lower bed; Aa die block releasably secured to said lower bed; a punch block having a portion thereof extending into said lateral slot so as to engage said first side wall and so as to leave a space between said portion and said second side wall; a clamp extending into said space between said portion and said second side wall; and fastening means for moving said clamp vertically relative to said punch block to wedge between said portion and said second side wall to hold said1 punch" block laterally against said first side wal WILLIAM D. LEWIS. 

